Bert waved his hand with a lordly air, and Dolly felt a great weight lifted from her shoulders. If Bert took the initiative like that, he was sure to succeed.
“Does Bob know?” he asked.
“No, I don’t want to tell Bob, if we can help it. Dotty promised not to tell anybody. Can’t we manage without letting any more know, than do know?”
“I ’spect so, Kiddy. Run along, and get your bonnet and shawl and let’s get at this world-beating game.”
Dolly ran away for her wraps with a light heart. What a dear Bert was, to be sure!
Trudy helped her on with her pretty party cape, and adjusted a chiffon scarf over the curly head. Then she kissed her good-bye, and the brother and sister started forth. They stopped next door for the Roses, and all went to the Forbes house together.
They were the first arrivals, which suited Dolly’s plans.
The house looked very beautiful, decorated as it was with flowers and palms. In the music room they could hear a harp and violin being tuned, and then Bernice herself came smiling, to greet them, arrayed in a stunning gown of gold-coloured crêpe, embroidered with poppies.
It was over elaborate for so young a girl, but it suited Bernice’s dark hair and clear, olive skin.
Mr. Forbes stood by, pleasant and amiable, but with a natural stiffness of manner, which he found it hard to overcome. Mrs. Forbes had been dead for many years, and Bernice had had little, if any company, so that Mr. Forbes had drawn more and more into himself, and had become a sort of hermit. But this evening, he tried to be sociable, even jovial, and he succeeded fairly well.